Francis Lopez Is Leaving UP. And I Can’t Stop Thinking About It.

Anak, dito ka lang.

Mag-review na tayo. May math exam ka pa bukas.

Keep your eyes on the paper, Miki. Stop looking elsewhere.

Focus, anak. Focus now. Focus…

I can’t focus, damn it. Francis Lopez is leaving the UP Fighting Maroons.

I’m not going to lie—when I first heard the news, I said a few choice words, some English, some Filipino, all of which I can’t repeat in front of my kids. Slowly but surely, the implications of this development dawned on me like a quiz I forgot to prepare for.

Francis’ decision to join Fighting Eagles Nagoya in the Japan B.League has changed the calculus for UAAP Season 88. As loaded as the Fighting Maroons are, Mr. Lopez’s departure leaves a gaping hole on both ends of the floor—a hole that can’t be quite filled by asking a handful of players in UP jerseys to run fast and slam the ball.

That’s right, folks: We will never again see Francis Lopez going on a one-man break and putting on a mind-blowing display of athleticism in a UAAP basketball game.

This is the biggest development in the college offseason thus far. So how the hell do I focus?

* * *

Simulan natin sa addition. You see all these objects here?

Put them together. Count them. That’s how you get the sum!

Let’s add these things.

Maybe I’m distraught because I know how much Francis added to the team. And I’m not just talking about tomahawks and reverse jams.

At a time when UP was reeling from the loss of Carl Tamayo, Zavier Lucero, and Henry Galinato, the 6-foot-6 forward from Ateneo High School stepped in, adding much-needed size to the Season 86 lineup. As that season unfolded, Francis showcased his ability to slash through the paint, draw multiple defenders, and create scoring situations.

On the defensive end, his huge frame deterred ball handlers from cruising to the hoop. Running like a gazelle in transition defense, he constantly posed the threat of a chasedown block—yet another highlight that fans would look forward to seeing from UP’s prized recruit.

Though Francis won Rookie of the Year honors in Season 86, he and the rest of the Maroons fell short of the top prize. By the end of his first season in UP, the criticism of his game had caught up to all the compliments. So what did he do? He added to his game.

A year later, the rookie who was given grief for his decision-making had blossomed into a second-year tactician who showed better situational awareness. The raw athlete whose bread and butter was drives to the basket could now make defenders think twice with a jump shot that got better and better.

With 1:13 left in Game 3 of Season 87 Finals, it was at its very best as Francis knocked down a top-of-the-key three. That bucket, which gave UP enough separation to finally pull away from La Salle, ended up becoming the biggest shot of Francis’ UAAP career.

I was hoping that he’d add one more title to his college resume in Season 88. Alas, that will never happen.

* * *

Good job, Miki! We’re almost there. Punta na tayo sa subtraction.

Francis’ departure is such a huge subtraction from the UP roster.

Let’s count the objects that we’ll remove from the whole.

My maroon heart objects to all the exits from the UP roster.

Look at this, seven minus five equals two. Let’s count the five objects that we’ll remove. 

One. JD Cagulangan.

Two. Quentin Millora-Brown.

Three. Aldous Torculas.

Four. Denzil Walker.

Five. Francis Lopez.

What do we have left?

Hopes of two straight UAAP championships have taken a hit. I’m not going to lie: As far as my bravado goes, there’s a difference between how I was feeling this past weekend and how I’m feeling right now.

I do have to remind myself—this is UP. They’ll find a way to solve this equation and get an uno.

Till then, I’ll have to deal with this feeling.

* * *

Come back, anak! We’re almost done. Konti na lang.

But, as I reflect on this situation, I realize that this was bound to happen. One day, the Fighting Maroons fanbase was going to have to say goodbye to Francis.

Konti na lang talaga, anak.

Did I know deep inside that Season 88 could have been his last year in UP? Absolutely. I really, really wanted to see him run it back with the Bullpups-turned-manongs. I was salivating at the prospect of his chemistry with the GOAT himself, Rey Remogat.

This past Saturday, UP suited up in black (the color of mourning, I guess?) as they took on the CSB Blazers in the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup. During the broadcast, ALL-STAR’s Naveen Ganglani—who was on the call as anchor—mentioned how Francis had spent a month training in the US to sharpen his skills.

And boy oh boy, did he look sharp. As soon as he checked in, he got the ball, backed his defender in the low post, then turned around and swished a jumper that had a nice-looking arc. His moves on the block and refined shooting mechanics were a welcome sight, as were his patented rim runs and strong finishes at the basket.

His vast improvement will serve him well, even when his jersey reads “Eagles” and not “Maroons.”

Anak? Dito ka lang?

Someday, every teacher has to let their prized pupil spread their wings beyond the campus. Sooner or later, every parent has to allow their child to leave the comforts (or, indeed, confines) of home and learn the puzzling mathematics of the real world.

On April 28, 2025—the same day that two rabid UP fans celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary—the time finally came. The news finally broke, and now, we finally have to say goodbye.

Take flight, Francis Lopez. I hope you ace your next test.

Okay na, anak. Have fun!